Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group twentieth anniversary priority setting

The Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group (TAG) gather evidence on a particular topic, appraise it, and make conclusions in a process called systematic reviewing. The aim is to inform smokers and healthcare providers about the best ways to prevent or stop smoking. The group's work has had a large impact on treatments and policies, and 2016 will be the 20th anniversary of TAG's formation at the University of Oxford. Previously TAG's priorities have been decided by researchers; however including other groups in decisions about future directions will enable findings to be better applied to those who need them, and have a higher global impact.

To mark their anniversary and develop new ways of working, responsive to evolving trends in smoking behaviour, TAG plan to carry out a priority setting exercise involving policy makers, clinicians, associated health professionals, smokers, former smokers, and researchers. Participants will identify questions that still need answering in tobacco control via a survey, and will attend a workshop, run by independent facilitators, to discuss where TAG in particular should focus their future research efforts. This may be in updating reviews, beginning reviews on new topics, or both. This approach is similar to that of the James Lind Alliance (a well-developed method for incorporating the views of the public and policy makers in setting priorities); and the proposed work will draw on their processes and develop them further.

The workshop will include talks by editors of the group on what has been achieved so far and its current position, followed by group, round table discussions on gaps in their systematic reviews and areas that should be prioritised in the future. The findings of this exercise will be written up for publication and more general dissemination, and identified priorities will begin to be actioned before the end of 2016.

Project website

Nicola Lindson-Hawley, University of Oxford